Jesse Thorn

Illustration by Esra Roise

"Most of my days involve four- and five-hour stretches of what I would characterize as dicking around on the Internet," says podcasting impresario and public-radio host Jesse Thorn, adding, "I do mean stretches, plural." We think he's kidding, but either way, his process works: Thorn is getting bigger-name guests for his public-radio show, The Sound of Young America, such as writer-director Judd Apatow, Carl Newman of the indie band the New Pornographers, and novelist William Gibson; he's added John Hodgman to his stable of popular comedy podcasts; and Put This On, his blog and web series devoted to dressing like a grown-up, is stylish and smart. Thorn runs his own annual pledge drive, and his Internet time is paying off. He doubled his monthly donors this year.

Maximum Fun

Put This On

A humorous fundraising video goes behind the mic of The Sound of Young America, followed by an episode of Thorn's Put This On.

Q: Where do you go for inspiration?

A: When I'm feeling stuck, I go to the thrift store. I like that at the thrift store, I can look through things that are almost completely uncurated. It's just stuff. Could be great, could be awful. And anything I find that I want, I can buy it. It will not be out of my price range. It makes me feel like anything's possible. That's not a joke.

"I try and avoid things I don't enjoy, and do more of things I do enjoy."

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Interests:: casa de las flores bb hotel, SAVE OUR ASSES!, Parks and Recreation, Michael Jackson, The Roots, Alan Flusser, Common, Archer, The Daily Show, WTF with Marc Maron, Prodigy (Mobb Deep), Put This On: Tradition, 99% Invisible, Jamie Day Fleck Photography, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST MOVIE, Ten West, 826LA, Jordana de Lovely, Flying Lotus, J PRESS NECKTIE PAISLEYS PATTERN RED SILK TIE, Keep it Pithy, De La Soul, Conan O'Brien Presents: Team Coco, Kansas City Perfect Wedding Guide, Radiolab, Dave Hill's Podcasting Incident, A Bajillion Hits, Watch The Throne, Independent Film Channel, Lynda Barry, Rue La La, The Birthday Boys, Sierra Trading Post, Ashkon, Four Lions, Gilt Man, Put This On Bow Tie Making Club, The Extra Man, National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles Section, No on Prop 8 | Don't Eliminate Marriage for Anyone, Curb Your Enthusiasm, J Dilla, I'm Banning Myself From Mississippi Public Radio, Barack Obama, Lands' End, Persol 649, Likes, Huell Howser, José James, Put This On, The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, Dr. Steve Brule, Carl Kasell, Elizabeth 'Tina' Fey, Danny R. McBride, The Simpsons, The Second City, Will Franken, Amy Sedaris, The Coen Brothers, Todd Barry, This American Life, Jordan, Jesse GO!, Car Talk, Eugene Mirman, Scott Thompson, SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival, Anya Garrett, Sky & Nancy Collins, Paul F. Tompkins, RooftopComedy.com, Arrested Development, Brian Posehn, Mike Birbiglia, Patton Oswalt, UCBcomedy.com, Stephen Fry, Sidecar, Arj Barker, Kasper Hauser, Kids in the Hall, Elephant Larry, Fred Armisen, Jonathan Katz, Dr. Ronald Chevalier, Andrew Daly, Improv Everywhere, SKIT SKAT, Threadbared, Norm MacDonald, Sarah Vowell, Dave Attell, kottke.org, On The Hour, SFstandup.com, Michael Ian Black, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre - Los Angeles, Aziz Ansari, West Coast Live, Michael Showalter, Sleepwalk With Me, Cobb's Comedy Club, Pee-wee Herman, Walter Mosley, Vocalo.org, Max Goldberg, The Age of Persuasion, City and County of San Francisco, Patrick Warburton, Honey Suckle Duvet, Zune, Seth Godin, Tig Notaro, The New Yorker, NPR, Michelle Biloon, The Takeaway, PRI Public Radio International, CBC, WFMU, Swedish Chef, The Coen Bros., Merlin Mann, The Sound of Young America, FREEDARKO PRESENTS: The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac, You Look Nice Today, Stand Up! Records, PRX Public Radio Exchange, Del Close, Larry David FanPage, The Onion, Wyatt Cenac, Philips Cinema, Mr. Show, MaxFunCon, The Official Chris Hardwick Fan Cluster, SATIRISTAS, Upright Citizens Brigade, The Wire, Human Giant, 30 Rock, Lands' End Canvas, KALW News, Saying "hella", The Monsters of Podcasting, Never Not Funny, To the Best of Our Knowledge, John Moe, Paul Scheer, Equality California, A Suitable Wardrobe, Shira Lazar, Mad Men, Late Show with David Letterman, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Office, Too Beautiful To Live, Flight of the Conchords, Saturday Night Live, Asssscat!, Brendon Small, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharoahe Monch, Hard 'n Phirm, Liberace, God's Pottery, Lucky, Bear Nation, The Hangover
Music:: Michael Jackson

Common

Jordana de Lovely

Flying Lotus

De La Soul

Watch The Throne

J Dilla

José James

Liberace

God's Pottery

Brendon Small

A Tribe Called Quest

Hard 'n Phirm

Pharoahe Monch

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Owner, The Sound of Young America / Maximumfun.org | Greater Los Angeles Area

Summary:

Creator, host & producer of The Sound of Young America and all-around boss of MaximumFun.org. Interested in expanding both the show and the site, finding new stations and businesses interested in supporting public broadcasting, and finding new opportunities and challenges in media and entertainment.

Specialties:

Interviewing, voice work, comedy, podcasting & new media.

Connections:

106+

Positions:

Owner at The Sound of Young America / Maximumfun.org